Wave Motion Exercise Apparatus and Method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for performing an exercise features a platform configured to support a person performing the exercise and to move with a wave-like motion. The platform may be configured to move with two simultaneous wave-like motions in two degrees of freedom selected from pitch, roll and yaw to render the motion more difficult for the person to predict. The wave-like motion causes the person to utilize his or her sense of balance and to exercise related muscles and groups of muscles.

1 . An exercise apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a base;   b. a platform, said platform being configured to support a person performing an exercise;   c. support means to support said platform upon said base, said support means allowing said platform to selectably move in a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom with respect to said base;   d. first means to effect a first motion of said platform with respect to said base in said first degree of freedom;   e. second means to effect a second motion of said platform with respect to said base in said second degree of freedom;   f. control means to control said first means and said second means, said control means being operable by said person when said person is supported by said platform.   
   
   
       2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , said first degree of freedom and said second degree of freedom being selected from a list consisting of a pitch, a roll and a yaw of said platform with respect to said base. 
   
   
       3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said first degree of freedom is said pitch of said platform, the apparatus further comprising: a transverse axis, said platform being configured to rotate about said transverse axis, said platform and said base in combination defining a pitch angle about said transverse axis, said first motion being a change in said pitch angle of said platform with respect to said base, said first motion being regular and periodic, said first motion defining a pitch angle frequency, said control means being configured to determine said pitch angle and said pitch angle frequency. 
   
   
       4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said second degree of freedom is said roll of said platform, the apparatus further comprising: a longitudinal axis, said platform being configured to rotate about said longitudinal axis, said platform and said base defining in combination a roll angle about said longitudinal axis, said second motion being a change in said roll angle of said platform with respect to said base, said second motion being regular and periodic, said second motion defining a roll angle frequency, said control means being configured to determine said roll angle and said roll angle frequency. 
   
   
       5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said second degree of freedom is said yaw of said platform, the apparatus further comprising: a vertical axis, said platform being configured to rotate about said vertical axis, said platform and said base defining in combination a yaw angle about said longitudinal axis, said second motion being a change in said yaw angle of said platform with respect to said base, said second motion being regular and periodic, said second motion defining a yaw angle frequency, said control means being configured to determine said yaw angle and said yaw angle frequency. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said pitch angle frequency is selected by said control means within a range from 0.5 seconds to 30 seconds and wherein said pitch angel is selected by said control means within a range of from positive four degrees to negative four degrees. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said roll angle frequency is selectable within a range from 0.5 seconds to 30 seconds and wherein said roll angle is selected within a range of from positive four degrees to negative four degrees. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said support means engages both said base and said platform, said support means being selected from the list consisting of: a ball-and-socket bearing, a gimbal, a plurality of hydraulic cylinders, a bladder, and a plurality of springs. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first and said second means comprise:
 a. two or more hydraulic cylinders, each said hydraulic cylinder operatively engaging said platform and said base;   b. a hydraulic pump;   c. a hydraulic valve;   d. a hydraulic piping, said hydraulic piping operatively connecting said hydraulic cylinders, said hydraulic valve and said hydraulic pump, said hydraulic valve being interposed hydraulically between said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic cylinders, said hydraulic valve controlling an extension and contraction of said hydraulic cylinders, said hydraulic valve being controlled by said control means.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first means comprises:
 a. a motor configured for rotation;   b. a crank configured for rotation by said motor, said crank rotationally engaging a one of said base and said platform;   c. a connecting rod attached to said crank and operatively connected to the other of said base and said platform, said control means controlling a speed of rotation of said crank, said crank in combination with said connecting rod imparting a wave motion to said platform.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , the apparatus further comprising: an exercise appliance, said exercise appliance being supported by said platform for manipulation by said person when said platform is moving with said wave motion. 
   
   
       12 . An exercise apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a ground-engaging base;   b. an annular ball-and-socket bearing, said ball-and-socket bearing being supported by said base, said ball-and-socket bearing being configured for simultaneous rotation about a first axis and a second axis;   c. a platform, said platform being supported by said ball-and-socket bearing, said platform being configured to support a person when said person is performing an exercise;   d. first means to impart a first rotation of said platform about said first axis between a first axis first position and a first axis second position, said first rotation being periodic and having a first rotation amplitude and a first rotation frequency;   e. second means to impart a second rotation of said platform about said second axis between a second axis first position and a second axis second position, said second rotation being periodic and having a second rotation amplitude and a second rotation frequency;   f. a control system, said control system being configured to determine said first rotation amplitude and frequency and said second rotation amplitude and frequency.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said control system further comprising:
 a. a control inceptor, said control inceptor being configured to receive a control command from said person when said person is supported by said platform;   b. a microprocessor, said microprocessor being configured to receive said control command from said control inceptor, said microprocessor being programmed to select a first instruction for said first means and a second instruction for said second means to accomplish said control command from said person; said microprocessor being configured to transmit said first and said second instructions, said first means being configured to receive and implement said first instruction, said second means being configured to receive and implement said second instruction.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said first and said second means comprise:
 a. two or more hydraulic cylinders, each said hydraulic cylinder operatively engaging said platform and said base;   b. a hydraulic pump;   c. a hydraulic valve;   d. a hydraulic piping, said hydraulic piping operatively connecting said hydraulic cylinders, said hydraulic valve and said hydraulic pump, said hydraulic valve being interposed hydraulically between said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic cylinders, said hydraulic valve controlling an extension and contraction of said hydraulic cylinders, said hydraulic valve being controlled by said control means.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said first means comprises:
 a. a motor configured for rotation;   b. a crank configured for rotation by said motor, said crank rotationally engaging a one of said base and said platform;   c. a connecting rod attached to said crank and operatively connected to the other of said base and said platform, said control means controlling a speed of rotation of said crank, said crank in combination with said connecting rod imparting a wave motion to said platform.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , the apparatus further comprising: an exercise appliance, said exercise appliance being supported by said platform for manipulation by said person when sa d platform is moving with said wave motion. 
   
   
       17 . A method for performing an exercise, the method comprising:
 a. providing a platform, said platform being configured to support a person performing the exercise, said platform being supported by a base, said platform being configured to be capable of a first motion in a first degree of freedom with respect to said base, said platform being configured to be capable of a second motion in a second degree of freedom with respect to said base; said base supporting first means to move said platform in said first motion, said first motion being regular and periodic, said base supporting second means to move said platform in said second motion, said second motion being regular and periodic;   b. providing control means to control said first motion and said second motion, said control means being operable by said person when said person is supported by said platform;   c. selecting by said person of a command for said first motion and said second motion using said control means;   d. generating said first motion and said second motion by said first means and said second means in response to said command;   e. performing by said person of the exercise while said person is supported by said platform and said platform is moving in said first motion and said second motion.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said first degree of freedom being pitch and said second degree of freedom being roll. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said first motion having a first frequency and a first amplitude, said second motion having a second frequency and a second amplitude, said first and said second frequencies being selectable using said control mean to be different one from the other; said first amplitude and said second amplitude being separately selectable using said control means to be different one from the other. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , the method further providing: providing an exercise appliance, said exercise appliance being supported by said platform, said step of performing by said person of the exercise utilizing said exercise appliance.